BILL ANALYSIS
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Senate Research Center |
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, the state’s public schools are labeled either “met standard” or “improvement required” (the equivalent of a “pass-fail” rating). Beginning in 2016, individual campuses will be labeled using four different category rankings of “exemplary,” “recognized,” “acceptable,” and “unacceptable.” These four designations lack the clarity of an A-F rating system. S.B. 6 provides Texas parents with a more transparent way to determine the quality of their local schools in order to make the best decision for their child.
Key Points:
• Last session the legislature voted to rate districts on an A-F rating in H.B. 5. Although the bill also included an A-F rating for campuses as passed on the floor of the House and Senate, the campus rating was removed during the Conference Committee.
• S.B. 6 changes the campus rating label used by the state to an A-F rating, making campus ratings more transparent for parents and communities.
• S.B. 6 accelerates implementation of A-F district ratings to the upcoming 2015-2016 school year (vs. current law implementation in the 2016-2017 school year).
Over the last decade, 16 states have adopted A-F ratings for campuses. In the first few years of implementation in Florida, D and F campuses outnumbered A and B campuses. By 2013, 59 percent of campuses in Florida had earned an A or B.
As proposed, S.B. 6 amends current law relating to public school performance ratings.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority previously granted to the commissioner of education is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 39.054, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 39.054, Education Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:
(a) Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) to adopt rules to evaluate school district and campus performance and assign each district and campus a performance rating of A, B, C, D, or F. Provides that a district or campus performance rating of A reflects exemplary performance. Provides that a district or campus performance rating of B reflects recognized performance. Provides that a district or campus performance rating of C, rather than B or C, reflects acceptable performance. Provides that a district or campus performance rating of D or F reflects unacceptable performance. Provides that a district may not receive a performance rating of A if the district includes any campus with a performance rating of D or F, rather than a performance rating of unacceptable. Provides that a reference in law to an acceptable rating or acceptable performance includes a performance rating of A or B or exemplary or recognized performance.
Deletes existing text requiring the commissioner to also assign each campus a performance rating of exemplary, recognized, acceptable, or unacceptable, and deletes existing text providing that a campus performance rating of exemplary, recognized, or acceptable reflects acceptable performance, and a campus performance rating of unacceptable reflects unacceptable performance. Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(a-1) Creates this subsection from existing text. Requires that the performance rating of each district and campus, not later than August 8 of each year, be made publicly available as provided by rules adopted under this section, rather than subsection. Requires the commissioner, if a district or campus received a performance rating of D or F, rather than if a district or campus received a performance rating that reflected unacceptable performance, for the preceding school year, to notify the district of a subsequent such designation on or before June 15.
SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 44(b) (providing that this section applies beginning with the 2014-2015 school year), Chapter 211 (H.B. 5), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013.
SECTION 3. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.